Absentee Voters Week 2010 Published Sept. 22, 2010 By 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Absentee Voters Week is the second of two (non-sequential) weeks set aside by the Department of Defense for the voters to recognize the military's focus on preserving the right to vote and encouraging the absentee voters to do so. Absentee Voters Week has a dual focus. The goals are to emphasize and encourage the voters to register and request absentee ballots if they have not yet done so, and to encourage those who already have registered and received their ballots to complete their absentee ballots and return them to their local election officials. If voters have previously sent in their Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) requesting registration and an absentee ballot but have not yet received their ballot, The Whiteman AFB Voting Assistance Officers are available to help in filling out and sending in the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to serve as a backup in case the regular absentee ballot doesn't reach the voter in time to fill in and return to their local election officials to be counted in the November election. If voters have not taken any steps toward registering and casting their votes, then they are encouraged to simultaneously fill in and send in both, the FPCA and the FWAB. The Department of Defense has taken steps to make absentee voting easier for the military members, their families, and overseas voters (Federal employees working overseas). What used to be a complicated process of having to check the Voting Assistance Guide for state-specific requirements and deadlines for absentee voting has now been automated. Voters can click on this link https://www.fvap.gov/r3/fpca/home to fill in the FPCA using a wizard that assists the absentee voter in filling in the form based on their particular state/county of residence. If voters do not receive their ballot by October 2nd, they should use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a back-up ballot! Similar to the FPCA Wizard, voters can click on this link https://www.fvap.gov/r3/fwab/home to fill in the FWAB using a wizard that assists the absentee voter in filling in the form, again, based on their particular state and county of residence. Once completed, the voter then prints out the form, signs and returns it to their local election official. The wizards produce a PDF package that includes their postage-paid envelope template, security envelope template, instructions to election officials, state-specific information and submission instructions, voter's declaration/affirmation, and write-in ballot pre-populated with the information and candidates the voter entered in the FWAB Wizard. If the State allows faxed returns, the wizard will even prepare a fax cover sheet with the fax number to the local election official! If voters receive their State ballot after submitting the FWAB, they should vote and return the State ballot as well. The State will only count the FWAB if the State ballot is not received by the deadline. The Whiteman AFB Voting Assistance Officers will be available at the Base Exchange and the Club during the week, 27 Sep through 4 Oct (except 2 and 3Oct) from 1100 to 1300 to help the voters and answer questions. On 28, 29 & 30 Sep, the county voter registration personnel will also be at the Base Exchange from 1100 - 1300 to answer questions and help with the registration. Whiteman AFB voting information phone line: 687-2868 Whiteman AFB voting organization email: vote@whiteman.af.mil